Report Card for ECW On SciFi for 10/3
Considering they have what should be riveting, event television next week with "Extreme Strip Poker" I wouldn't have blamed ECW on SciFi for coasting this week. Instead, we got a really solid show that continued some existing feuds, and gave us a couple of solid wrestling matches. If you couldn't read the sarcasm in that first sentence, you must be a member of WWE Creative, or completely in-line with their thought processes.
Paul Heyman/Hardcore Holly segment: This was a great way to open the show up, Holly was absolutely shooting when he said he wanted to work the show, as he came to the taping wanting to wrestle, but WWE made the right call in taking no chances and giving Holly time to heal. Think what you want about Holly as a person, as a performer you have to respect his dedication. Paul Heyman is always golden on the mic, and I liked that they used this to make Test look like a sadistic son of a bitch by hitting Holly with that chair. Holly is now a face, which is smart because like I said last week, I just couldn't see any fans wanting to boo him after last week's performance. ECW could certainly use more heels, but to force the fans to boo someone they want to like is just stupid and would be leaving money on the table. Grade: A
Big Show/Matt Striker over Sabu/Sandman: This was a pretty good match to open the show up. All four guys worked well, and they continue to get good heat on the Striker/Sandman feud. Sabu and Show appears to be over with, so I'd really just consider this match as a way to get them on TV this week. Grade: B
Kevin Thorne over Tommy Dreamer: Dreamer is always a feel good guy, and it's nice that they gave us a break from the Mahoney/Thorne issue for a week. Solid match between the two, and I think it was the right call to have a screwy finish so as to keep Tommy valuable for the future. I'm not sure I ever see Tommy Dreamer having the kind of big feuds he did in ECW, but he is a valuable name and worker for the brand, so I'm always in favor of keeping him strong for the future. Grade: B
CM Punk over Danny Doring via submission: Doring needs to hit the gym, seriously, I realize he's not being used as anything but an enhancement guy, but show some pride in your body dude, that gut he's starting to sport is just an embarrassment. Typical CM Punk squash here, and they furthered the Knox/Punk issue a bit with dueling promos. I think next week it's time to have Knox actually start attacking Punk to keep this one fresh. I really feel this could be a very good feud for both men, but they have to avoid some of the repetitiveness that many ECW feuds go through. Grade: B+
Diva segments: I know these ran throughout the show, but like when King Booker showed, I will just grade them all at once right here. These were largely hit and miss, proving that some of the girls in the company have a real mastery of looking good and have charismatic personalities, and some are just miles away from being interesting. I still say this is just further proof of how out of touch Vince is, and to have Joey Styles swearing up and down to end the show we'd see someone buck naked next week just had me laughing. Because while I can believe someone will have to lose every stitch of clothing, I don't believe we're going to be seeing their naughty bits when it happens. Not since the ending of the first episode of ECW on SciFi have I been looking at an edition of the show with such dread. Good work WWE! Grade: D
Test over Rob Van Dam in an Extreme Rules match: Best...match...of Test's career. Easily. Both guys worked thier butts off and RVD really carried this. I cringed when Paul Heyman and his security goons came out, but I think they were very very effective in portraying the idea that RVD just would not say die against impossible odds, something these sorts of run-in's usually can't accomplish because their done so often. Big Show screwing Van Dam at the finish was the icing on the cake as it seems more and more apparent to me WWE is ready to give RVD that rematch feud with Big Show. This also helps Test because he can now run around claiming a victory over headliner for the brand. Excellent bout, not as good as last week's Holly/RVD bout I feel, but Test definitely proved to all his critics that he's here to play, and I applaud his effort. Grade: A
Overall: Like I said at the top, we got a solid episode here, was it blow away? Hell no. ECW is in a long holding pattern right now as they continue to tick down the time until the Survivor Series, and then their own PPV event in December. The best you can ask for this month is good booking, and one or two matches to really sink your teeth into. You got that this week, and it's just another example of how great ECW has become at making the most of their time. Grade: B +
Thanks for reading as always, this report card brought to you by Professor aviewaskewed, Professor of Extreme Studies. This report card delivered in the name of the Funker, The Sabu, and the Holy Heyman.
